THE COMMON LOBSTEK. 34 



Velvet crab Horrid crab. 



boiled. It inhabits all our shores, and lurks un- 

 der the algae, or burrows under the sand. It is 

 sold, and eaten by the poor of our capitals. 



The velvet crab has the thorax quinqueden- 

 tated ; the body is covered with short, brown, 

 velvet-like pile, and the claws with minute tuber- 

 cles ; there are small spines round the top of the 

 second joint; the hind legs are broadly ovated. 

 This is among the species taken notice of by 

 Aristotle on account of the broad feet, which, he 

 says, assist them in swimming, as web feet do 

 the water fowl. It inhabits the western coast of 

 Anglesea. 



The horrid crab has a projecting, bifurcated 

 snout, the end diverging; the body is heart- 

 shaped ; and the claws and legs covered with 

 long and very sharp spines. It is a large species, 

 and inhabits the rocks on the eastern coasts of 

 Scotland. 



LOBSTERS. 



THE common lobster has a smooth thorax, 

 short serrated snout, very long antennas, and 

 between them two shorter ones; bifid clans, 

 and fangs large, the greater tuberculated, the 

 lesser serrated on the inner edge; four pair 

 of legs, six joints in the tail ; tail-fins round- 

 ed. The pincers of one of the lobster's 

 large claws are furnished with knobs, and those 



